8-8-2023 (PARIS) French police announced on Monday the arrest of a 55-year-old German man after his wife was discovered in a distressed state, claiming to have been held captive for 12 years in their apartment. However, the husband denied these allegations and stated that he was caring for his wife, who was suffering from cancer.
According to a police source, the woman, also German, was found in a bedroom of their apartment with her head shaved, displaying multiple injuries and signs of malnourishment. The source suggested that she may have been subjected to torture.
After being examined by the local forensic medicine service, the woman’s health was described as “not good” by local prosecutor Olivier Glady. However, during a subsequent news conference, Glady revealed that initial examinations did not uncover any fractures or bruises, contrary to earlier media reports.
Blood tests indicated that the woman was not severely dehydrated, and Glady noted “inconsistencies” in her statements to investigators. He suggested that the situation may lean more towards inadequate care of a sick individual rather than a horror scenario.
Referring to the French folk tale of “Bluebeard,” which centers around a wealthy man who murders his wives, Glady stated, “The current state of investigation appears to move away from the spectre of a Bluebeard of the Moselle region.”
Police reported that the bedroom and other areas of the apartment were secured with metal wire, potentially to confine the couple’s ten cats, according to Glady.
The woman, aged 53, managed to access a phone and contacted the police in Wiesbaden, Germany, who then informed their French counterparts.
A neighbor named Alicia revealed that over the years, the husband had informed everyone in the building that his wife was battling cancer. Alicia admitted to never having seen the woman and believed she never left the house. She recalled hearing screams but assumed they were related to the illness. Describing the husband as “polite” and “nice,” Alicia expressed her shock at the situation.
Another witness named Erika, who resides in a nearby street, stated that she had last seen the woman “maybe 10 years ago” and had assumed she had either passed away or moved away.
French broadcaster BFMTV reported that police are investigating the man for kidnapping, aggravated rape, and acts of torture and barbarism. Additionally, it was reported by RMC that a notebook, potentially containing records of the man’s actions and when he provided food to his wife, was discovered, although the prosecutor did not confirm this.
Police had previously been called to the couple’s residence in 2019 but did not observe any signs of trouble. The man, who is currently unemployed, is believed to have previously worked in the German industry, according to Glady.
The prosecutor stated that the man’s custody has been extended by 24 hours.
